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A critical shortage of water exists in the Arkansas River Basin cf Colorado, a shortage that menaces the ecenomic stability of the entire -eg:on. The shortage is the result of pop~lation g~ow~h, industrial expansion and a natural de~ic:ency in nrecipitation. It is imperative that additional supplies of water be secured if this region is te continue to ex;:)a~d and develep. ~ The Fryi:1gpan-Arkansas Project is the 8nly nape for new water. . . no other source is available. ~_'r:'':,._-::::- ;~ ~~"i.'~i~;l~~ .l~lj~'~~'-~~-'h ~:-~~~~~2-::~i~ Water is the very lifeblood of the semi-arid Arkansas Valley. Irriga- tion is the only way to offset the natural deficiency in precipitation. Farming and livestock, tr.e prircipal irld~stries are \'Vholly de;Jendent UpO:1 irrigatier. Almost from the arrival cf the first set71ers in the Vaney, water has been &verted from t~e rivers and streams fe~ irrga- tion purposes. Due t:) extreme fluctuations in the flow of the Arkansas River, farmers of :he Valley face each year with uncertainty. . . will this year b-i~~ a harvest or a crop faih..:re? This uncer- tainty, this constant anxiety, has an adverse and c!epressing effect on all business activity of the region. Farmers throughout the Valley agree that the cost of sUJplenental irrigation water from the Project, 55.40 per acre foot, is cheaD crop insurance when the crop inves:-- ment threatened with total less would range f '~!"'1 sse to S5CO pe~ acre. The Project will put no new lands under irrig3ticn. It will only furnish supplemental water to the 280,600 acres now irrigated reducing t-e a\-er<=~e headgate def"c:ercy frem 3EPb t;) 19 c~. Tre Fryi~gpan-Arkansas Project w: II p~ovide, through carryover storage, reasonable assurance of a harvest. " _ even in drought years. The supplemental water furnished by the Project will mean the difference between un- _ _"7:..,J :~:~~::~:;':~~;:~~~~~:~~~:db~ ~:a:::; ;~e;~~c~~:~s::~:~~: ~~ lack of water is halting the expansion and development of the ~~ Arkansas Valley. Present water supplies are barely adequate in most municipalities, and in many, of very poor quality. The region has an excellent year 'round climate, favorable trans- p8rtation facilities and an ample labor supply. it abolmds in natural resources. . . vast ceal c!eposi~s, minerals, lumber and agricultural p'oducts. Any further development cf the Arkansas Valley is contingent upon securing a dependable water supply. . . a water supply that can only corre from the completion of the Fryingpan- Arkansas Project.